While the NFL season got under way Wednesday with the Cowboys beating the Giants, the bulk of Week 1 takes place today.

However, it seems like the NFL season never really ended.

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Since the Giants defeated the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI, which supposedly signals the end of another football season, there's been plenty of NFL to go around.

The offseason was a bit of a circus, with many of the game's biggest names having starring roles.

The situation in New Orleans, which got a little better when three suspended players were reinstated, was a big hit to an organization that three years ago was the darling of the NFL after winning a title. The Bountygate incident resulted in the indefinite suspension of a defensive coordinator and a season-long suspension for head coach Sean Payton, among its penalties.

That was the dark side of the NFL offseason, although the current dispute involving the league's officials could turn ugly when or if the replacement officials blow a few too many calls and decide the outcome of a game.

Maybe the NFL should figure that one out.

Quarterbacks also dominated the offseason. The biggest media frenzy surrounded Peyton Manning, who went from Indianapolis to Denver and immediately propelled the Broncos into a contender. How his neck holds up for an entire season is yet to be seen, but the preseason went well for the four-time MVP.

Then there's the top two picks in this year's NFL Draft - Luck and Griffin III. There are high expectations for both players, who are expected to turn around a pair of struggling franchises in the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins. They also highlight a handful of starting rookie quarterbacks, among them Brandon Weeden in Cleveland, Ryan Tannehill in Miami and Russell Wilson in Seattle.

Finally, there's the situation in New York with the Jets. You know who it involves, so there's no need to go there. I think ESPN has covered it enough.

Now for the actual season.

Will the Giants repeat? Will the Broncos be a major threat in the AFC? Can the 49ers back up a strong 2011 season? Will the Packers rebound from a disappointing playoff loss? Can the Ravens finally reach the Super Bowl? Is the Dream Team in Philly ready for a dream season?